Legality of receiving satellite signals carrying cable programs

Siddall, David R. (Author)

1984

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

The right of satellite dish owners to tune into cable programs being relayed by satellite signals has been the subject of extensive consideration by the 98th Congress. On October 30, 1984, enactment of Public Law No. 98-549, effective on December 29, 1984, provided a statutory right of backyard dish owners to watch cable programming being carried by the unencrypted satellite signals. However, if the owners to the rights of such programming establish a marketing system for the sale of such viewing rights, the dish owners are obligated to purchase such rights at the agreed upon price.
The report briefly discusses the provisions and context of this new law. A more in-depth analysis of the subject area is contained in the CRS report entitled Unauthorized Reception of Communications Satellite Signals Carrying Video Programs dated August 6, 1984 (before passage of the new law).

Pages 3, 5, 7, and 9 are missing.

David R. Siddall, Legislative Attorney, American Law Division.

CRS 84-846 A

"December 14, 1984."

SuDoc# LC 14. 18/3

eng

1984-01-01T00:00:00Z

16 pages

book

text